PINELLAS COUNTY – They say variety is the spice of life, and if that’s true this weekend will be a tasty treat for those looking to get out and have a little fun.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival

Chocolate lovers might want to check out the second weekend of activities at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Fowler Avenue and 46th Street, next to MOSI, in Tampa.

The festival continues weekends through April 6, rain or shine.

Each weekend the festival features a special theme. On March 1-2 Fittlesworth hosts its Chocolate Extravaganza in honor of King Henry’s birthday. Enjoy samplings of pastries and candies from chefs in and around the Tampa area on top of the myriad of other activities.

This weekend is also Largo Days. Bring in a valid Largo I.D. and receive $5 off a general admission ticket.

Or better, yet – get in for free. Tampa Bay Newspapers’ Online Edition has teamed up the festival organizers to offer a chance to win free tickets for the weekends of March 1-2, March 9-10 and March 15-16. Register to win at www.k­crenf­est.c­om/tb­nweek­ly.as­p.

For more tasty treats, try the Clearwater Greek Festival, Friday, Feb. 29 through Sunday, March 2, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 409 Old Coachman Road, in Clearwater. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. The festival features Greek food and dancing, cooking demonstrations, a Greek grocery store, arts and crafts, pastries, church tours, performances by junior and senior Hellas Dancers and a live Greek band. For more information, call 799-4605.

Theater lovers’ mouths should be watering with the number of shows opening this weekend around Pinellas.

A hilarious farce by Ray Cooney, “Run For Your Wife” opened Thursday and continues through Sunday, April 20, at Early Bird Dinner Theatre, 200 S. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Performances are Thursday through Sunday, with seating at 4 p.m. Matinees are Thursday and Saturday, with seating at 11 a.m. Cost is $29.90 plus tax for dinner and the show. Call 446-5898 or visit www.e­arlyb­irddi­nnert­heatr­e.com.

"The Last Night of Ballyhoo" opens Friday, Feb. 29, and continues through March 16 at St. Petersburg Little Theatre, 4025 31st St. S., St. Petersburg. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 adults, $10 students. Call 866-1973 or visit www.s­plt.i­nfo.

Other shows set for this weekend, include: The Magic of Ireland, an evening of traditional Irish and Celtic song and dance, on Friday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Petersburg’s Palladium Theater and Mind Games by mind-reader Bob Lawson for one show only on Saturday, March 1, at the Francis Wilson Playhouse, 302 Seminole St., Clearwater.

Classical pianist Louis Demetrius Alvanis performs on Saturday, March 8, 8 p.m., at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St. Reserved seat tickets are $22; $20 for members and students. Tickets are available at the box office, 727-942-5605 or online at www.t­arpon­arts.­org.

Singer-songwriter James Rogers performs Saturday, March 1, 7 p.m., in the Digitorium at St. Petersburg College’s Seminole Campus, 9200 113th St. N., Seminole.

CanAmGer Jazz Band plays Sunday, March 2, 1 to 4 p.m., at the East Bay Country Club, 702 Country Club Drive, Largo. Cover $10 for members of the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Society; $15 for guests. Call 727-724-3379

Blast from the Past, memories of the ’50s and ’60s, is set for Feb. 29, and March 1, 7 and 8, at Oakhurst United Methodist Church, 13400 Park Blvd., Seminole. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by the show at 7:15. A matinee will be presented on Sunday, March 2, with lunch served at 12:30 p.m. followed by the show at 1:15 p.m. Call 391-4769.

Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church, 8505 113th St., Seminole, is having a community campfire Friday, Feb. 29, 7 p.m. Plans call for singing around a campfire, making s’mores and drinking hot chocolate. The church is at Call 391-5509.

The Home Show, an event for homeowners in the stages of remodeling their homes, will be Friday, Feb. 29, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, March 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. The event includes hundreds of exhibits with merchandise, product demonstrations and sample interior and exterior vignettes. Tickets are $8 adults. Children under 16 are free. Visit www.a­cshom­eshow­.com.

The Indian Rocks Historical Society hosts a traditional potluck luncheon at noon on Saturday, March 1, at the historical museum, 203 Fourth Ave. (across from the post office), in Indian Rocks Beach. All are welcome, members and nonmembers – just bring a dish to share. Plates, utensils and beverages are provided. There is no charge. Terry Powell, a craftsman who creates authentic reproductions of primitive Indian tools, will be the guest speaker. Powell’s talk will include actual demonstrations, and will bring to life some of the discoveries he made as he attempted to create these tools and put them into use. Call 517-8076.